Verse of the Day and Devotional 2/13/2025

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by Bible League International.

Narrated by Artificial Intelligence, Eric.

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Scripture

The soldiers were going out of the city with Jesus. They saw a man from Cyrene named Simon, and they forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. – Matthew 27:32 ERV

Devotion

One of the most profound pictures I recall is from a scene in the movie “The Passion of the Christ.” As Jesus’ procession to Calvary comes to its end, the Roman soldiers tell Simon of Cyrene to run along. We see Simon on the edge of the cliff, staring back toward Jesus in complete awe before he takes off running and drops out of the screen.

I so look forward to meeting Simon in heaven. He was a special chosen vessel of God. Where Adam is the first of creation, Abraham the father of faith, Mary the one and only mother of Jesus, Simon’s relationship with Jesus is unique. He is the only one who was joined, yoked together with Jesus, arm in arm, sweat and blood mingling, both mocked and spit upon, whipped on their backs to keep moving. I want to know what Jesus personally said to Simon on the way to Calvary in their shared agony. Words reserved only for a testimony in eternity.

We all have a destiny with eternity. Simon’s destiny with eternity in bearing the cross with Jesus is unique, but not exclusive. We all have or will have an encounter with the cross of Jesus. The question is, what have we or what will we do with it? Simon was forced by the soldiers to carry the cross with Jesus (Luke 23:26). I have no doubt he protested. I imaging him saying, “Why me? I am not a condemned man! I am a righteous man! I am just minding my own business doing my duty celebrating the Passover with my family.”

However, the Bible is very clear there is none righteous, no not one (Rom 3:10). The only righteous one is Jesus (1 John 2:1). You see, Simon represents all of us in unrighteousness. Because of sin, all of us are in need of a true encounter with Jesus and the cross.

As Simon ran off that cliff to reunite with his family, bloody and sweaty, skin and clothes defiled, he would have to go through a ceremonial cleansing process rather than celebrate the Passover with his family. For Simon this would become his new Passover, most likely recalling the words of Jesus and his encounter with the cross. Perhaps Jesus repeated similar words to those in Matthew 11, “Come unto Me, Simon, as you are weary and heavy laden, I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, and follow Me, and I will give you rest for your soul.”

The Bible tells us the cross is a place of substitution as Jesus took our place for the judgment and punishment of our sin (John 2:2). The cross is the place of separation that sets apart the believer from the world (1 Peter 2:9-10). The cross is the place of victory over death and Satan’s hold on us (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). And the cross is the end and the new beginning to those who believe (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Simon’s cross encounter changed him and his family forever. In Mark 15:21, Rufus and Alexander are identified as Simon’s sons. And in Romans 16:13, Paul sends greetings to his fellow Christian brothers, Rufus and Alexander, and their mother. Simon could not partake in the Passover after his encounter with Jesus and the cross. However, he had a new Passover story to share with his family. A better Passover. A complete Passover.

Simon did not have a choice to confront his encounter with the cross of Jesus. You and I do. For those who have never chosen the cross and the way of Jesus, today is the day. Now is the acceptable time. Repent of your sin. Receive God’s love and forgiveness and surrender your life to Christ as Savior and Lord. Be filled with the Holy Spirit to be a glorious witness for Him in these last days rejoicing in your new covenant, your new Passover.

For those who have encountered the cross and surrendered their lives to Jesus as new creations in Christ, perhaps this is a day to reflect and revere what it means. Reflect on the price Jesus paid for your salvation. The cross of Jesus is what defines Simon of Cyrene. The question is whether it defines you?